A little something sweet for Valentine’s day. Some will be dining out, others, like me will be eating in. I have reserved my free bottle of Waitrose champagne, thanks to their promotional gift when making your first online order with them. Usually this is accompanied by seafood, I don’t mind what. And something chocolate to finish.
My sweet offering for this year includes the cacao nibs I was given for Christmas. They turn a simple chocolate cookie into something quite special. The crunch and dark unsweetened flavour of cacao adds an unexpected note with a little heat too from a pinch of Piment d’Espelette.
Adding a layer of lime flavoured Mascarpone turns these cookies into a chocolate cheesecake sandwich fit for any Valentine occasion.
I am adding my Valentine bake to the following linkies:
One Ingredient hosted by ME and Franglais Kitchen. This month’s theme is LIMES.
Family Foodies hosted by Louisa at Eat Your Veg and Vanesther at Bangers&Mash. The theme is LOVE.
Four Seasons Food hosted by Anneli at Delicieux and Louisa at Eat your Veg. The theme is FOOD FROM THE HEART.
Simply Sensational Food’s LET”S COOK SWEET TREATS FOR VALENTINE.
Tea Time Treats hosted by Karen at Lavender & Lovage and Janie at The Hedgecombers. This month’s theme is CHOCOLATE.
I am also sending these over to Elizabeth at Tango Like Raindrop’s VALENTINEBAKES blog hop.
- For the cookies:)
- -100g softened butter,
- -50g caster sugar,
- -1/2tsp Piment d'Espelette,
- -20g crushed cacao nibs,
- -25g good quality cocoa powder,
- -80g plain flour,
- 50g cornflour
- For the cheesecake filling:)
- -250g Mascarpone,
- -2tbsp dark maple syrup,
- -Zest of 1 lime
- For the cookies:)
- 1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl using a wooden spoon to begin with then use your hands to bring the cookie dough together into a ball and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes,
- 2. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees then line a large baking tray with baking parchment,
- 3. Roll out the cookie dough on a floured work surface (not too thin) and cut out shapes using a heart cookie cutter ,
- 4. Place the cookies onto the tray and bake for 15 minutes then leave to cool completely before filling with the cheesecake cream.
- For the cheesecake filling:)
- Combine all of the ingredients and place into a piping bag ready to fill the cookies when they are cool. Keep refrigerated until you are ready to fill the cookies.
- For the cheesecake cookies:)
- 1. Pipe a generous amount of the cheesecake filling onto the base of one cookie then sandwich together with another cookie. Continue this process until half of the cookies have been filled. Top with the remaining cookies.
- 2. Do this at the last minute as the cookies must not be refrigerated as they will soften and lose their crisp bite.
Goodness they look so light and look at that deep colour x
Very intense flavoured cookie, love cacao nibs!
These look so pretty Laura and sound scrumptious too with the lovely lime mascarpone filling and deep chocolate biscuit. I’ve not thought of grinding up cocoa nibs – what an interesting idea …
Well Choclette I have a kilo of cacao beans I got for Xmas so am now starting to use them up!
A perfect Valentine’s treat, chocolate and lime is always wonderful and your added spice must warm them up superbly.
Thanks Jude, a little hint of spice does work here and I do love chocolate limes, always a favourite!
So cute and romantic I am sure your valentine is going to be thrilled to eat these.
Thanks Nanya, I hope so too!
I have always fancied making sandwiched cookies, but was never sure what to fill them with. I’d never have thought of mascarpone. They look wonderful!
Thanks Jac, if you don’t like the filling you could replace it with ice cream which works very well too
This sounds deeply delicious. I am partial to the little cacao nib and even like it in porridge (that is a bit weird though). I was wondering, I am not keen on marscapone, would full-fat soft cheese work just as well? I have never made a filled biscuit before but I do think this is so cute and looks straightforward for a relative non-baker (of sweet things at least) that perhaps I won’t make too much a of a hash of it!
Absolutely Kellie, full fat soft cheese would be fine or even ice cream or chocolate ganache. Your choice!
These are adorable and just perfect for Valentine’s Laura. I am a recent marscapone convert and will be filling everything with it soon!
Yes same here Helen, just love it in sweet and savoury cooking. So rich and smooth.
What a fabulous recipe Laura with some tantalising flavours going on… perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Thanks Katie, can’t really go wrong with chocolate for Valentine’s day!
These look lovely, – like Oreos only sexier! 😉 That’s very disciplined of you to reserve your Waitrose champagne until Valentines, I think I’d have drunk mine already!!
I know, I have it chilling nicely as we speak!
Gorgeous wee biscuits of loveliness Laura and a very wonderful entry to this month’s Family Foodies ‘Love’ event. Lovely flavours and so so pretty!
Thanks Louisa, have enjoyed my Valentine bake this year!
oooh these look pretty and the combination of dark chocolate with lime in the cream sounds heavenly
Thanks Nazima, I really do love both lemon and lime with chocolate
The filling looks really divine and I haven;t yet used cocoa nibs in baking so I’ll give them a go x
They are so intense a flavour Ren, add a good crunch too
Look at that colour! I’m yet to try cacao nibs and really must hunt some down. Lovely biscuits Laura!
Thanks Sian, the cacao nibs add crunch and a strong rich chocolate taste without being too sweet
These look so pretty and super delicious!
Thanks Jessica!
Aren’t those lovely, what a great idea and I bet they are delicious!
Thanks Anna, cacao nibs do make them rich and they smell great when baking!
I love these cookies, they look so cute and tasty too.
Thanks Julie, pleased you like them!
I don’t think I’ve ever stumbled accross cacao nibs, will have a better look next time I am out shopping!
Love the heart shaped cookies, perfect for Valentines! And free champagne is an excellent bonus! Enjoy!
Thanks Anne, it was very good champagne!
Chocolate Cheesecake Sandwich you say? YES YES YES I say
These look so pretty and I love the idea of squashing that lime mascarpone in the middle. Served with champagne? Can I be your valentine next year? (lol!!) Thanks for entering them into Four Seasons Food x
Thanks Anneli!
FABULOUS entry for TTT Laura! LOVE biscuits like this! Karen
Love these, especially that filling. Yum!